Switch-button.



No. 889,760. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

G. A. CLARK.

SWITCH BUTTON. APPLICATION FILED 001224, 1907.

Fig- 1- I'F Fig.6

W/ TNE SSE S M-Q'M INVENTOR c qrls A. Clark.

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SWITCH-BUTTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed October 24, 1907. Serial No. 398,887.

The invention relates to switch buttons,

and more particularly to such. a device having special features of automatic adjustment The objects of the invention are to provide simple and eliicicnt means for securing a proper adjustment between the'button of the switch and the face plate or cover and spindle thereof.

further object is to produce a button so constructed that there will be practically no liability of relative rotation between the button and its contained parts arranged for attachment to a spindle or the like.

.A still further object is to provide an.au tomatic-ally ad'ustable button employing a cushion" or resilient connection which is not liable to lose its tension in use.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view illustrating the button. applied: to a rotary sna switch, with parts broken away to better il ustrate the'construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the button illustrating in dotted lines the method of se-- curing the retainer and appurtenant parts. 3 is a bottom plan. view of the retainer with the spring stud in place. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a modified form of cushion. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the spring leaves.

In the manufacture of switches it is customary to employ, as inthe rotary snap switch herein illustrated, a cover for the working parts. Where flush switches are used, a plate covers the working parts. In either instance, a spindle for actuating the switch mechanism extends through or adjacent to an opening in the plate or cover, and is surmounted by a suitable button or handle, by

which'the spindle may be rotated. In. dcl viceso f this class there are certain inequalities with reference to the base and cover, and consequently, with reference to the spindle, which makes it desirable and necessary to provide a means appurtenant to the button reference to the plate or cover, without the liability of undue cramping. For instance, if the thread of the spindle and the engaging thread of the button are not accurately doi signed to bring the button into an exact predetermined position, with reference to the cover or plate, the cover will either rattle and be loose upon its base, or will be cramped by k the button.

vention. to provide a button having a resilient cushion interposed between the button and its means for attachment to the spindle.

In the accompanying drawings, numeral 1 denotes a button applied to a spindle 2 which, as shown hereln, extends through a cover 3 of the switch 4. As the switch. per se forms no material part of the present invention, its details have not been illustrated, although it is to be understood that the spindle 2 upon rotation aotnates the switch mechanism.

or otherwise employedto surround and hold drical in form having a header 6, open sides 7 8, and side frame pieces 9. The side frame pieces 9 normally extend beyond the lower edge 10 of the button 1, and are arranged to be bent inwardas illustrated in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby securing a washer 11. This washer '11 is scarfed or notched on opposite sides as at ].213 to permit passage of the ends of the side frames.

Located within the recess 14 of the retainer is a s ring plug 15 having a head 16 correspon ing in form to the inner walls of the retainer and provided at its lower end with a screw threaded socket 17 adapted to engage of the spring plug 15 is referably of angular cross section. and upon t us are arranged a series of .members 18 having perforations cor responding in shape to the said body part.

As shown in Figs. 1-3 the spring members 18 consist of plates of a suitable size to fit within the opening or recess in the retainer 5, and these plates are curved to form leaves. Intermediate the adjacent curved leaves are straight plates 19 to form a bearing upon which the ends of the curved springs rest and ride as they are compressed. Asshown in these figures the alternate plates are straight and the curvature of the spring leaves is sub- The button 1 is preferably composed of a material which maybe molded, vulcanized,

a retainer 5. This retainer 5 is semi-cylin the thread of the spindle 2. The body part for permitting a close fit of said button with I It is the primary object of the present instantially the same throughout the entire spring cushion.

might be formed to rest and bear uponeach other.

In assembling the device the retainer 5 is molded or otherwise secured in the handle or button 1, the plu 15 is then inserted, ,the spring leaves are ropped over the plug and the washer 11 is then secured in place by bending in, or otherwise securing the retainer to the washer.

It can be readily seen from the above de-' scription that the button may be screwed onto the s indle and any inequalities may be overcome y the givin of the spring plug 15, so that said button will always serve as a retainer to hold the cover or face plate in proper position without liability of cramping and binding.

By' having the spring plug and spring leaves of angular form (herein shown as substantially rectangular), there is little or no possibility of any of the parts rotating relatively to the others, and as they are held in an inclosed retainer chamber, there is prac tically no opportunity for cramping the parts or wearing them.

Of course it isunderstood that the details might be varied to a considerable extent without departin from the spirit or scope of the invention. it is also apparent that the button might bemade in sections and suitably secured to the retainer, although the preferred method is to mold the button ate the button and its attaching means.

about said retainer. The whole device comprises a resilient cushion intermediate the utton and the means of 'attaclnnent to the spindle.

The specific form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 is not claimed in this application, it being made the subject of application 416,147 filed by me on the 15th day of Februar 1908, as a division of this case.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch button having means for attachment to a switch spindle and a series of resilient leaves forming a cushion intermedi- 2. A switch button having a retainer se cured therein and a resilient cushion arranged in said retainer and consisting of a plurality ofspring leaves, and a spring plug passing therethrough.

3. A switch button having a retainer provided with a chamber, a spring plug located within said chamber, a series 01? spring plates mounted u on said plug, and means for retaining sai plates.

4. A switch button having a recess, a spring lug located therein, a plurality of spring eaves mounted on said )lug, and

means for retaining said leaves wit in the recess.

5. A switch button having a recess, a spring plug located therein, a series of spring leaves appurtenant to said spring plug, bearing plates intermediate the adjacent spring leaves, and means for retaining the spring leaves and bearing lates within the recess.

. C IARLES A. CLARK. Nitnesscs:

A. B. WILSON, JOHN ONEIL. 

